This school year, Yorba Linda High School welcomes Mr. Shen (S) as our new Activities Director. He aims to lead ASB in creating a welcoming and spirited environment for every student on campus.
“As Activities Director, I oversee the ASB class,” Mr. Shen explained. “ASB helps build a positive school culture for all students by encouraging school spirit and providing fun activities throughout the school year. From organizing student sections at athletic events to planning dances and spirit rallies, we’re here to make school a place where everyone feels connected.”
For Mr. Shen, returning to high school is a homecoming. “It’s my first year back at the high school level since I was a student teacher over twenty years ago,” he shares. “One of my most important goals is to make everyone on campus feel welcome, included, and connected to our school and each other.”
Many students remember Mr. Shen from their Bernardo Yorba Middle School as the History teacher, and he’s just as excited to see them.
“I am extremely happy to be able to see so many students who went to Bernardo here at YLHS! Bernardo Yorba will always have a special place in my heart, and being surrounded by so many former students makes me feel right at home here,” he explains. “I hope that I was able to serve my kids well when they were Matadors, and I hope that I can serve the Mustangs even better now. That being said, I’m terrible at remembering names, so please go easy on me if I forgot!”
Outside the classroom, Mr. Shen has a playful side. He’s an ordained reverend through the Universal Life Church and has officiated at four weddings. He also dreams of retirement, saying he “wants to work at Disneyland as a Jungle Cruise skipper,” calling it “one of the most fun jobs at the park.”
When it comes to life philosophy, Mr. Shen lives by a unique mantra: “Those two people are your 8-year-old self and your 80-year-old self. As long as you think your younger self would think highly of the person you’ve become and the older version of yourself would be proud of the life you’re living, then you’re all set!”
With Mr. Shen’s enthusiasm for fostering school spirit and friendly personality, he is ready to lead the Mustangs into an exciting year. If you see him around the campus, don’t hesitate to say hello! Let’s make this year our best one yet.
